Baby Pasta Salad

How cute is this pasta salad? It’s so perfect for your littlest eater or any kiddo in the house for that matter. All of my kids love it, but especially baby girl…

I make a batch of this easy pasta salad at the beginning of the week for her to eat for lunch and sometimes dinner all throughout the week. It’s been easy for her to eat ever since she really got the hang of baby-led weaning around 9 months. I’ll mix it up sometimes depending on the veggies I buy. And now that she’s older, I’ll use bigger whole wheat pastas like penne but she and the boys really love the star shaped pasta.

It’s usually a meal-in-one for my crew, but sometimes I’ll serve it alongside baked chicken nuggets or with a cheese stick for protein. And it’s so great to take to a potluck or party for a kid-friendly dish.

Just three ingredients to keep it simple…the way baby food should be.

I always keep these three products on hand for the kids. The veggies are already cut to their size and they’re quick to cook. We use Bolthouse Farms dressings all the time to dip veggies in or drizzle over salads. The stelline pasta is such a great starter pasta for babies who are learning to eat. And it’s star shape is super cute!

Just cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente. Once al dente, turn off the heat and stir in the defrosted veggies. Let the veggies rest in the hot pasta water with the pasta for 2 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in 1 cup dressing until pasta and veggies are completed coated. Season with a little salt, if desired.

And that’s all there is to it. It keeps great in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. It’s so nice to have it ready to serve throughout the week. I’ll serve it to Brookie for lunch, put it in the boys’ school lunch boxes or scoop it up for a quick dinner when I don’t have anything planned and the crew is hungry.

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Turn burner off and immediately stir in defrosted mixed vegetables. Let vegetables and pasta sit in hot water for 2 minutes before draining. Once drained well, transfer pasta and vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Stir in 1 cup yogurt dressing until all pasta and vegetables are evenly coated. Salt lightly, if desired.

Hi BJ! I’ve seen a few lactose-free ranch dressings at the store that you could use or if you google “dairy free ranch dressing recipe” there are several recipes out there that you could try making. Hope this helps. Enjoy!

Hi Claudia! I usually serve it cold unless I’ve just made it. I would not recommend freezing it as the dressing will likely separate after it thaws which will leave the salad with a weird texture. Hope this helps and hope you little one loves it!

Hi Michelle! I would suggest either making your own ranch (I just googled and there are several allergy-free recipes out there) or you could look for a brand that makes a ranch dressing that meets your son’s allergy requirements. Or you could toss the pasta in hummus or a vinaigrette dressing. Hope this helps. Enjoy!

Hi Cindy! Yes, it’s such a great recipe for older kiddos too. My whole crew loves it and of course, each one has their veggie that they don’t like and usually pick around. Ugh! Fun times with little eaters! I hope your two love it! Enjoy!